Pedicures are popular among women and men. Medical pedicures are well-suited for those who have certain conditions.
Many women have foot fungus that causes thickened, brittle, discolored toenails. Getting a pedicure at a local salon may just disguise the nail with polish. It’s tough to eliminate fungus, especially when the instruments aren’t sterilized properly. A diligent treatment program can eliminate the condition.
High heels and active lifestyles can predispose your nails to fungus. The toenail bumps up against the toe box of your shoe. High heels can cause microtraumas.
Bacterial infections and abscesses can result from contaminated pedicures. Your local salon should not deal with ingrown toenail removal unless they are trained in medical procedures.
All pedicure tools that cannot be sterilized should be single-use and thrown away. Microbes on unsterilized, shared tools can lead to fungus and infection.
Your shoes should be cleaned with a UV light if you have fungus and infection. That’s the only way you can kill most of the microbes. There are devices you can place in your shoe for sterilization at home.
Gel nail polish lasts a long time but destroys the nail. It’s unhealthy to have the nail covered for consecutive weeks. Harsh chemicals are used to remove the polish. These chemicals can compromise the nail bed, which is there to keep harmful organisms out. It’s best to keep a healthy, natural nail. But, you can remove your nail polish every two weeks to air out the nails.
Don’t let your technician cut your cuticles. This opens you up to infection. Treat your cuticles with a gentle nail oil.
Best Feet Treats
- Get to know your foot. Do you have a high or low arch? Find the right athletic shoe for your foot type.
- Do you have any pain? Talk to a doctor if you have pain.
- How do your feet move? Do you feel comfortable the entire time you engage in athletics? Seek medical advice if there is chronic discomfort.
- Learn how to best care for your foot based on your particular foot issues. You may need orthotics or arch supports.
- Investigate the skin on your feet. Treat as appropriate or seek medical advice.
- Moisturize your feet daily. If a skin conditions doesn’t resolve after two weeks of moisturizing, see a doctor for a diagnosis
Listen as Dr. Krista Archer joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to help you have lovely, healthy feet.
Resources:
www.incrediwear.comUse code DA20off to save $20 on your UVTR purchase
www.drkristaarcher.com/productsUse code ARCH5 to save $5
Sponsor:
Smarty Pants Vitamins
Featuring:
Krista Archer, DPM
Dr. Krista A. Archer is a podiatry surgeon who prides herself on attention to detail and excellent cosmetic results, making her patients’ feet look and feel better.
As a former competitive athlete and marathon runner, she enjoys treating sports-related and exercise-induced injuries. As a fashion lover, she is determined to make high heels more wearable. She has developed a line of natural skin care products to maintain healthy, beautiful feet.
Dr. Archer is committed to providing pain relief and solutions to foot problems associated with plantar fasciitis, sports injuries, heel pain, bunions, corns, calluses, and foot and ankle arthritis, and more.
Dr. Archer is currently on staff at Lenox Hill Hospital (New York, NY). She is also a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), and the New York State Podiatric Medical Association (NYSPMA).
Prior to attending podiatric medical school Dr. Archer was part of the Bone Biology & Research division of a major biopharmaceutical company. Here, she was primarily involved in the research and development of novel implantable and injectable delivery systems for rhBMP-2 (recombinant human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2), and investigated the efficacy of rhBMP-2 on fracture healing.
Today, rhBMP-2 is available to spine surgery patients under the product name Infuse®. Dr.Archer remains active in research, and has been published in leading medical and scientific journals. As a medical student she published a groundbreaking paper on plantar fasciitis.
Currently, she is investigating the use and efficacy of laser for the treatment of nail fungus, warts, and heel pain.
Dr. Archer also created and launched her own line of Arch skin products, which use some of the best natural ingredients to heal and moisturize dry, cracked skin and protect nails.
Dr. Archer graduated with honors, and in the top 10 students of her class from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, and she was selected to attend one of the top podiatric surgical residency programs. At St. Barnabas Medical Center (Livingston, NJ) she received extensive training in foot and ankle surgery from orthopedic and podiatric surgeons alike. She went on to receive further training in foot and ankle arthroscopy. Dr. Archer completed her undergraduate pre-med track at William Smith College where she graduated with honors and a B.S. in Biology. She was also an Academic-All-American, and varsity captain of William Smith’s NCAA championship lacrosse team. Dr. Archer is a 2016 inductee into the Heron Hall of Honor receiving the Hosking Award, which recognizes distinguished former William Smith student-athletes for outstanding lifetime achievement in their chosen field of work.
Dr. Archer is a native New Yorker and lives in Brooklyn with her husband, kids, and dogs.
